Sustainability has become a major driving force within construction. It’s a breath of fresh air for an industry that generates so much waste and, up until now, has had little or no transparency. Architects have pushed this through specifications, and working with end users to gain a certain status related to sustainability programs such as …

When I think of using wood as a building material, my mind initially focuses in on doors (obviously – that’s the name of the blog). I think of the craftsmanship of a fine stile and rail door, or the beautiful natural grain pattern in a flush wood door. Whatever type of door or species of …

Thermal bow is a temporary condition that may occur in certain applications of metal door openings. The cause of thermal bow is differing temperatures on either side of an opening. When steel doors experience a temperature difference between the door faces, the top and bottom of the lock edge of the door …

The International Code Council (ICC) develops codes and standards for design and construction with the ultimate goal of life safety. ICC 500 provides standards for storm shelters that provide refuge from storms producing high winds, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. These standards were introduced in the International Building Code in 2009 stating that if you …

Positive pressure was added to fire testing procedures in 1998 to more closely simulate real fire conditions. Before that there was no pressure type procedure in the testing so conclusions were drawn simply from flame and temperature. In real fire conditions as heat develops within the source area, pressure within an enclosed room begins to …